Moores set to return as England coach

The ECB will announce a new England head coach on Saturday with Peter Moores, who was sacked from the role five years ago, set for a second chance at the job with Paul Farbrace, the recently appointed Sri Lanka coach, tipped to come on board as Moores' assistant.

Interviews of the shortlisted candidates for the top job - Giles, Peter Moores, Mark Robinson, Mick Newell and Trevor Bayliss - have taken place in the last few days at Lord's or, in Bayliss' case, via Skype from the Middle East. Farbrace was also interviewed although it is understood he did not want to be considered for the head coach's position.

Since England returned from the World T20, where they were dumped out before the semi-finals and finished with a defeat against Netherlands, the mood had shifted from Giles being the man expected to slot into Andy Flower's shoes - a step up from his position as limited-overs coach - to Moores, who previously coached England from 2007 to early 2009, being the frontrunner to shape England's new era.

In the wake of the 5-0 Ashes whitewash, Giles presided over a 4-1 loss in the following one-day series and 3-0 in the T20s. Although there was some silverware in the Caribbean, with the one-day series, the subsequent failings in the World T20 appear to have swung Giles' fate.

Moores' previous spell came from 2007, when he replaced Duncan Fletcher following a previous Ashes whitewash and poor World Cup campaign, to early 2009 when he lost his job alongside the sacking of Kevin Pietersen as captain after it emerged the pair could not work together. Other senior England players also had concerns about Moores, but in the intervening five years he has had the chance to evolve his coaching methods.

Flower, who now has a new role with the ECB based at Loughborough, is also an admirer of Moores who he worked under as assistant coach before promotion following Moores' sacking.

Although the manner in which Moores' stint ended is what it is largely remembered for, he did put in place a lot of personnel who went onto play significant roles in England's subsequent successes from 2009 to 2013. He oversaw James Anderson's return to the Test team, recalled Graeme Swann, gave Matt Prior his Test debut and helped mould the early days of Stuart Broad's career and his fruitful partnership with Anderson.

Shortly after losing his England role, Moores became the head coach with Lancashire. He guided the county to their first Championship title in 77 years in 2011 and although they were relegated the following season they were promoted straight back in 2013.

Farbrace, meanwhile, the former Yorkshire 2nd XI coach, has made a late run for the line to work alongside Moores. He was only appointed to Sri Lanka in December and led them to the World T20 title earlier this month when they beat India in the final. Farbrace is currently in the UK for the Easter weekend.

Farbrace had signed a two-year contract with SLC beginning on January 1 this year, and a move to England would constitute a significant crisis for Sri Lanka, less than a month before their tour of England is set to begin.

Financial limitations had severely hindered SLC's hunt for a new national coach, after Graham Ford left the position and began work with Surrey, in January. On Friday, SLC did not appear to have been informed of Farbrace's potential move, with CEO Ashley de Silva dismissing reports of his forthcoming appointment in England as "pure speculation and rumour". Farbrace had not been part of Sri Lanka's Colombo celebrations after their World T20 triumph, having left the country shortly after the team landed.

The speed of the final decision may raise eyebrows - the announcement had not been expected until later next week - but there is not a huge amount of time for the ECB to play with. England's first international of the season is on May 9 against Scotland, in Aberdeen, before the visit of Sri Lanka later in May.

Lancashire will be in need of a new coach and while talk has already started that it may become a home for Giles the club could also look to recruit from within with Gary Yates, the current assistant coach, and club captain Glen Chapple among the options.

With inputs from Andrew Fidel Fernando in Colombo

Andrew McGlashan is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo; George Dobell is senior correspondent

Doesn't it sum the whole lot up: Downton essentially said there wasn't one sole reason for sacking KP, just that in the past the management were strong enough to control him but now they - Cook as captain and now Moores as coach - are not.

Wouldn't be so bad if we could expect a bunch of young players. But no. It'll be a pick of the usual established faces and whichever new player(s) are media darlings of the moment

John
on April 19, 2014, 9:18 GMT

If anyone thought that there was any chance that KP would be invited back to play for England, surely this is proof that that will never happen. I'm not saying that that is good or bad but it's got to be a good thing if people stop whining about it. He's gone; deal with it.

Lee
on April 19, 2014, 9:08 GMT

The KP conspiracy theorists are out I see. They take two forms, Moores has been appointed to stop KP coming back ,or KP was sacked so Moores could come back. KP has been sacked, right or wrong it is done, there is no need to pick anyone as coach to prevent his return. As to the second theory, when they sacked him I am confident that they expected to appoint Giles, but he fluffed his chance to impress.

Moores was very poorly treated, he was sacked so that Pietersen could continue as a player. His weakness then was his ability to handle experienced international players, who gave him no respect as he had not played at that level. The situation now is that the few experienced players that are left, Bell, Cook, Anderson, Broad & Prior were young players under him, and owe much of their opportunity to him. His strength is as a spotter of talent and developer of young players, that is what England need now.

Mike
on April 19, 2014, 8:42 GMT

I think England made the right decision. Moores is a wise choice. The assistant one is also a good move though have to feel for Sri Lanka. I think England will do well under this new management but have to be more realistic at the start and give them time to settle in otherwise the same old problem which has been going on now for England will continue. Looks like any rumours of KP return can be put to rest now.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 8:35 GMT

Some who are belittling the coaches' role are those who do not know what the coaches are supposed to do. They didn't, it seems, even look at the impact of replacing Arthur with Boof, on Australian team's morale and performance.

I am not surprised though, since many coaches themselves "seem" rather muddled ideas about it. Still worse, no idea about it.

rob
on April 19, 2014, 8:28 GMT

I wish I knew more about the English setup so I could make a well informed comment. I don't, so I can't - but I'd like to say this much. Has Moores improved significantly since his last crack at the job? Does England really feel that he can align their players with the boards goals? .. If so, he's the man. If not, well, what can you say.

Sean
on April 19, 2014, 8:21 GMT

Literally a backward step.

Paul
on April 19, 2014, 8:13 GMT

Typical appointment by ECB which makes sure there is no way back for KP given all that went on previously. If a coach who wanted the best team available was given the job Downton and Cook would both be in an invidious position.Dark days ahead for England even though Robson and Jordan will give a fresh injection of hope.

Lahiru
on April 19, 2014, 8:03 GMT

Sri Lankans got best talented coaches in the world. why do they always go behind the foreign coaches? they shold give the Head Coach role to Marvan Attapattu & Assistant Coach position to Romesh Kaluwitharana.. English team is using their home grown talent (most of the times) in leading roles.

Prasanna
on April 19, 2014, 7:45 GMT

@Appu Dasa, back in Aus, nobody frigging cares about the team's
performances in the T20 WC. It is not a yardstick at all to judge anything
under the sky. Within six months of his taking over, the team coached
by Boof won the Ashes and beat the world No 1 test team. On any day,
we would take that than a limited-overs trophy. Be it a coincidence or
not, Boof's return and Aus regaining the Ashes went together. Now
thats what I would call as good management.

David
on April 19, 2014, 12:07 GMT

Doesn't it sum the whole lot up: Downton essentially said there wasn't one sole reason for sacking KP, just that in the past the management were strong enough to control him but now they - Cook as captain and now Moores as coach - are not.

Wouldn't be so bad if we could expect a bunch of young players. But no. It'll be a pick of the usual established faces and whichever new player(s) are media darlings of the moment

John
on April 19, 2014, 9:18 GMT

If anyone thought that there was any chance that KP would be invited back to play for England, surely this is proof that that will never happen. I'm not saying that that is good or bad but it's got to be a good thing if people stop whining about it. He's gone; deal with it.

Lee
on April 19, 2014, 9:08 GMT

The KP conspiracy theorists are out I see. They take two forms, Moores has been appointed to stop KP coming back ,or KP was sacked so Moores could come back. KP has been sacked, right or wrong it is done, there is no need to pick anyone as coach to prevent his return. As to the second theory, when they sacked him I am confident that they expected to appoint Giles, but he fluffed his chance to impress.

Moores was very poorly treated, he was sacked so that Pietersen could continue as a player. His weakness then was his ability to handle experienced international players, who gave him no respect as he had not played at that level. The situation now is that the few experienced players that are left, Bell, Cook, Anderson, Broad & Prior were young players under him, and owe much of their opportunity to him. His strength is as a spotter of talent and developer of young players, that is what England need now.

Mike
on April 19, 2014, 8:42 GMT

I think England made the right decision. Moores is a wise choice. The assistant one is also a good move though have to feel for Sri Lanka. I think England will do well under this new management but have to be more realistic at the start and give them time to settle in otherwise the same old problem which has been going on now for England will continue. Looks like any rumours of KP return can be put to rest now.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 8:35 GMT

Some who are belittling the coaches' role are those who do not know what the coaches are supposed to do. They didn't, it seems, even look at the impact of replacing Arthur with Boof, on Australian team's morale and performance.

I am not surprised though, since many coaches themselves "seem" rather muddled ideas about it. Still worse, no idea about it.

rob
on April 19, 2014, 8:28 GMT

I wish I knew more about the English setup so I could make a well informed comment. I don't, so I can't - but I'd like to say this much. Has Moores improved significantly since his last crack at the job? Does England really feel that he can align their players with the boards goals? .. If so, he's the man. If not, well, what can you say.

Sean
on April 19, 2014, 8:21 GMT

Literally a backward step.

Paul
on April 19, 2014, 8:13 GMT

Typical appointment by ECB which makes sure there is no way back for KP given all that went on previously. If a coach who wanted the best team available was given the job Downton and Cook would both be in an invidious position.Dark days ahead for England even though Robson and Jordan will give a fresh injection of hope.

Lahiru
on April 19, 2014, 8:03 GMT

Sri Lankans got best talented coaches in the world. why do they always go behind the foreign coaches? they shold give the Head Coach role to Marvan Attapattu & Assistant Coach position to Romesh Kaluwitharana.. English team is using their home grown talent (most of the times) in leading roles.

Prasanna
on April 19, 2014, 7:45 GMT

@Appu Dasa, back in Aus, nobody frigging cares about the team's
performances in the T20 WC. It is not a yardstick at all to judge anything
under the sky. Within six months of his taking over, the team coached
by Boof won the Ashes and beat the world No 1 test team. On any day,
we would take that than a limited-overs trophy. Be it a coincidence or
not, Boof's return and Aus regaining the Ashes went together. Now
thats what I would call as good management.

Syed
on April 19, 2014, 7:41 GMT

What's in a coach...! He can only bring in some finer inputs, but the rest is all up to the players. Look at the coaches Sri Lanka has had, Dav Whatmore, Tom Moody, Trevor Bayliss and now Paul Farbrace. All these coaches have enhanced their status after their stint with Sri Lanka. Finally it boils down to the players. So, England can engage the best of coaches, but if its not a team effort, all is in vain.

RednWhiteArmy: I was with you on Collingwood before, but yesterday I had a very interesting conversation with someone who was part of the English team setup for years during Collingwood's playing days and he revealed that Collingwood was extemely dislikeable in person (not his exact words!). Not coach material methinks.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 6:58 GMT

I think if Fabrace wants to go, SLC should let him go .Give Mavan chance as Head Coach ... SL should start to appreciate local talents.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 6:51 GMT

Essentially, this means that KP is not coming back to England. Whatever slim chances there were of him making a comeback are now gone. Mediocrity is rewarded well in the ECB setup it would seem.

Rupert
on April 19, 2014, 6:42 GMT

At long last it becomes crystal clear now why KP was sacked.....

ranjana
on April 19, 2014, 5:42 GMT

A Coach can do a very little to a team. If a team has a talented and dedicated bunch of players the coach's job is insignificant. The best example is SL team. Whether they have Graham Ford or Farbrace the SLC don't care as long as they have Mahela Sanga, Malinga and Mathews around them. In the transition period of those two coaches they won the Aisan title and a world title. But in contrast England has a very well established Giles as the head coach but everyone witnessed their performance in the World T20. Simply the coaching position is only a formality, whether the England have Moores or Farbrace, don't make much change as long as the most talented bunch was not picked to represent the country.

Peter
on April 19, 2014, 5:19 GMT

Well they have not learned it seems. Moores is not what they need to begin the long climb back to being reasonably competitive. In any case, the coach is not England's problem - they need better quality players.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 4:51 GMT

Just curious. How come both the Coach & Asst Coach were Wicket Keepers, during their playing days? Is that experience adding an additional positive dimension to their roles?

Is it because they had the view of many a game from a vantage point? Or, they will not show any bias towards either batsmen or bowlers? Or, is it because they will safely pouch chances for victories, without slippage as had been happening quite frequently in recent years? Or,adroitly (if not acrobatically as W-Ks do) stop wayward executions (deliveries) of well thought out strategies? Or, all of it? I hope, it is the last one.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 4:40 GMT

It appears that English Cricket try to show that coaching is a miracle job when really it is not. If this is such a miracle then why did Flower fail in Australia? Why is it that they could not see the attrition factors that were already surfacing in Trott's mind? Why was it that the coaches could not manage Kevin? The secret to coaching lies in mind management and not body management. That is why with all the brawn, Aussies, West Indies, England could not do well in T 20 World Cup. A good coach must understand how mind process work with each player, be able to plan each players SWOT and show him his weaknesses. For the part bating, bowling and fielding you need an assistant who takes players through the drill to keep them in constant touch with the game.. Great coaches are great mind readers and who can work on each player mind moments. That was why Aussies had a great coach when the likes of Waugh, Gilly, Langer were playing. Good cricketers are not necessarily good coaches.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 4:13 GMT

Flowering ideas withered away, after blooming well. Giles guiles seem a little old fashioned. Will Moores be able to help England find their moorings? Interesting.Let us wait and watch.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 4:08 GMT

the fact that Flower is still in the background overseeing the progress of the next generation of youngsters and future coaches still means that he's there if Moores falls over again as he did in early 2009. If Moores trips up again there'll be no KP to blame. Indeed, the re-appointment of Moores would just ensure England go back to the downhill slide they went into when they lost test series at home to India in 2007(1-0), away in Sri Lanka 2007-8(1-0), home against South Africa 2008(2-1),away in India 2008-9(1-0) and the 2-0 home series win against West Indies in 2007 was unconvincing given West Indies' 394 batting effort chasing 454 target in 1 match and the 2-1/2-0 wins over New Zealand away and at home had too many come from behind and 4th innings 300+ total concession moments occur to go unnoticed by coaching staffers within the camps of India,South Africa,Sri Lanka and Australia.

Sean
on April 19, 2014, 4:06 GMT

Get Paul Collingwood into the coaching setup, pronto.

Dummy4
on April 19, 2014, 3:47 GMT

I see this as a backwards step. Moores is very similar to Mickey Arthur as a coach and Australia ditched him. He is too rigid, too intense and lacks the ability to relax the players. It will end in tears.

associate cricket fan
on April 19, 2014, 3:35 GMT

I hope Fabrace doesnt leave SL. Since fabrace took over the coaching role, we have only lost 1 game so far. I hope SLC does something and keep him as SL coach. He will be vital for us in the next years World cup in Aus.

Paul
on April 19, 2014, 1:42 GMT

KP and his contribution to cricket will be remembered long, long after we've all forgotten about the journeyman Moores. But that's England for you, stuffy and mediocre.

Chris
on April 19, 2014, 1:13 GMT

I guess this will also be the media conference where Cooke tells us the real reason KP was dumped. But we know now anyway - so he could get Moores back.

Very disappointed in England if indeed they do announce Moores. Their short list was weak. It looks like they were scratching the bottom of the barrel, or they made no effort to pursue anyone. That short list should look like "Kirsten, Warne, Fleming, Arthur" (not necessarily those 4, but guys of that calibre.

Rob
on April 19, 2014, 0:46 GMT

I am relieved Gilo didn't get the job as his management thus far has been poor, all the bring KP back talk from obsessed Indians will hopefully now ease off, apart from every time England don't win by an innings.

Simon
on April 19, 2014, 0:40 GMT

Terrific choice; I like Ashley Giles (his time may yet come), but I'll be very pleased if Mores is indeed appointed in the morning. We need a steady hand on the tiller, and Mores is just the man for the job. There's a lot of crap in these comments, as usual, but (also as usual) it seems most of the dissenting voices are from non-England supporters, and the majority that actually know the first thing about Mores and his England tenure are supportive.

David
on April 19, 2014, 0:32 GMT

The humiliating lost against the Netherlands sealed Giles fate to ever becoming the next England's head coach.

Jim
on April 18, 2014, 23:40 GMT

It amazes me that so few pundits didn't see (or publicly acknowledge this) coming months ago -- the moment Andy Flower stepped down, with Pietersen being "sacked" shortly thereafter, it was as though the ECB were telegraphing a decision that had already been made. Everything thereafter has been a pure smokescreen -- other candidates being put forward (eg Ashley Giles) are/were a simple distraction. Small wonder that an October timeline was placed on the public disclosure of the truth -- sufficient time for Moores to take over the team and show what he can do without KP speculation hanging over his head. The whole KP business was about Moores all along.

disco
on April 18, 2014, 22:54 GMT

Does this mean that KP is back with a chance of captaining England?

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 22:13 GMT

Peter Moores is the VERY best man for the Eng job. Very harshly (mis)treated by ECB previously.He will get the best out of all his players & is excellent tactician.Good luck to him!

Samuel
on April 18, 2014, 22:00 GMT

Who's making the call on Farbrace - Moores or the ECB? If it's the ECB, then surely that's wrong - Moores HAS to have a say in the staff he wants. He & Robinson worked together with some success at Sussex, why would he want to parachute in Farbrace, a man he's never worked with, over him?

Chris
on April 18, 2014, 21:39 GMT

From ECB's point of view this appointment finally guarantees no way back for Pietersen but Lancs devotees, whilst many might be happy to see him go, might also be fearing the worst for England. Lancashire haven't been the most dashing of sides under his tutelage. Personally I'd have been happier to see a clean break with the past and a change of emphasis that I now fear won't happen.
And couldn't they have interviewed and appointed BEFORE the County season got under way?

John
on April 18, 2014, 21:27 GMT

I'd have much preferred Robinson, as a clean break from the past and a new beginning, but Moores does seem to have the knack of spotting players who will do well at international level. Swann, in particular, was an inspired pick.

I can't help wondering if this appointment was already in the committee's mind when KP was axed. Clearly there could be no harmony in the dressing room with both KP and Moores there. If that's the case, then Moores had better make good this time around or everyone concerned will have egg on their faces.

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 21:24 GMT

So that's why KP was gotten rid of!

David
on April 18, 2014, 21:17 GMT

I wondered what would happen when one of the "Big Three" bombed down into the bottom half of the Test rankings.

But using the equation:

1 x Moores = 0 x Pietersen

........it is obvious that England will soon be looking enviously up at Pakistan, Sri Lanka and probably New Zealand and the West Indies. Especially with Amir's return just 17 months away.

England really should have gone to Gary Kirsten and said "What do we have to do to recruit you?", which probably meant restoring KP to the team and possibly the captaincy, given how negative and stereotyped Cook's captaincy is, even before his man-management failures like KP, Trott and Swann are considered.

But Moores as coach? This says a lot about the people in charge of English cricket. The "Big Three" changes told us all we needed to know about their morals. And bringing back Moores tells us just as much about their competence and judgment.

Michael
on April 18, 2014, 21:14 GMT

This move provides signicant proof that the ECB is hell bent on a course of self destruction as if it was not needed anyway. Barking mad!!What do they not already know about this guy from his first go at the job. And I suppose KP was cleared out of the way so that this no hoper could get another go at cocking it all up. Utterly hopeless. Clarke needs to go NOW. He really has no legitimatereason to be there.

venkatesh
on April 18, 2014, 21:04 GMT

then it is going to be the end of kp there was a ray of hope before now it's gone for ever.sad end to the greatest batsman ever to play forEngland

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 21:02 GMT

Not again...

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 20:55 GMT

Whoever is chosen, someone badly needs to look at how several promising bowlers seem to have been ruined at the hands of the England bowling coaches: Finn, Rankin, Roland-Jones, Briggs, Rashid etc to name just a few! Something really strange has been going on. Then there are the promising newcomers like Root and Stokes who also seem to have been messed around with instead of nurtured, and the strange discarding of Compton and all this without even mentioning Pietersen. There sure is a lot to sort out. Can't help thinking that Mark Robinson would have been the best equipped to do this, despite his lack of international experience.

SR
on April 18, 2014, 20:45 GMT

This is the ECB unequivocally stating that it never ever wants to see Kevin Pietersen in the English side again. Another coach might have argued for KP, but the bull-headed ECB wants nothing of that. This is what you get when you have mediocre players like Downtown and Whitaker - the man played one test and is now a selector! - making decisions. Good luck, England. I'm a huge fan of English cricket, but this summer I am, for the first time, hoping that India wipe the carpet with you lot.

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 20:39 GMT

So the fog clears at last! KP was dropped so moores could come in! ECB need there heads testing,KP was worth a million Moores!
Just goes to show, ECB are more intrested in what goes on off the field, than on it, sad day for England Cricket.

Android
on April 18, 2014, 20:38 GMT

Guys what's the chance of Kevin Pietersen coming back to the England set up even though the bust up between KP and Moores?

David
on April 18, 2014, 20:34 GMT

This is the worse possible news for English cricket - Moores just doesn't have what it takes to be an international coach. He had 2 years at the job before, and in that time alienated several senior players, undermined a very fine captain (Vaughan), created a generally unhappy dressing room, produced mediocre results (series wins only against NZ and WI - losses to everyone else) and lacked any of the charisma, vision and even unorthodoxy you need to be make a national side the best in the world.
In all it's a disgraceful, political appointment, with Andy Flower pulling the strings in the background, and not made at all in the interests of the national game.

Chatty
on April 18, 2014, 20:25 GMT

Wonder why Farbrace decided to leave so quickly from the SL job. Is it because he felt not appreciated by the SL team? Or was this opportunistic behavior on his part? If it is the latter, then it would not be very professional on his part.

Sajith
on April 18, 2014, 20:24 GMT

it is very sad for Paul Fabrace to leave SL in less than 4 months since taking up the job and then coach a side against it in less than a month.....He was expected to guide the SL team on the English tour and also help SL transition with the impending retirements of the seniors after WC2015....if not for what the SL team achieved in the last 4 months, Paul FAbrace would not have had any chance to take the Assistant Coaching job in England....I dont think its a good lesson in ethics!

Ross
on April 18, 2014, 20:06 GMT

Well now we know why Pietersen was given a "no way back" card.

No featured comments at the moment.

Ross
on April 18, 2014, 20:06 GMT

Well now we know why Pietersen was given a "no way back" card.

Sajith
on April 18, 2014, 20:24 GMT

it is very sad for Paul Fabrace to leave SL in less than 4 months since taking up the job and then coach a side against it in less than a month.....He was expected to guide the SL team on the English tour and also help SL transition with the impending retirements of the seniors after WC2015....if not for what the SL team achieved in the last 4 months, Paul FAbrace would not have had any chance to take the Assistant Coaching job in England....I dont think its a good lesson in ethics!

Chatty
on April 18, 2014, 20:25 GMT

Wonder why Farbrace decided to leave so quickly from the SL job. Is it because he felt not appreciated by the SL team? Or was this opportunistic behavior on his part? If it is the latter, then it would not be very professional on his part.

David
on April 18, 2014, 20:34 GMT

This is the worse possible news for English cricket - Moores just doesn't have what it takes to be an international coach. He had 2 years at the job before, and in that time alienated several senior players, undermined a very fine captain (Vaughan), created a generally unhappy dressing room, produced mediocre results (series wins only against NZ and WI - losses to everyone else) and lacked any of the charisma, vision and even unorthodoxy you need to be make a national side the best in the world.
In all it's a disgraceful, political appointment, with Andy Flower pulling the strings in the background, and not made at all in the interests of the national game.

Android
on April 18, 2014, 20:38 GMT

Guys what's the chance of Kevin Pietersen coming back to the England set up even though the bust up between KP and Moores?

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 20:39 GMT

So the fog clears at last! KP was dropped so moores could come in! ECB need there heads testing,KP was worth a million Moores!
Just goes to show, ECB are more intrested in what goes on off the field, than on it, sad day for England Cricket.

SR
on April 18, 2014, 20:45 GMT

This is the ECB unequivocally stating that it never ever wants to see Kevin Pietersen in the English side again. Another coach might have argued for KP, but the bull-headed ECB wants nothing of that. This is what you get when you have mediocre players like Downtown and Whitaker - the man played one test and is now a selector! - making decisions. Good luck, England. I'm a huge fan of English cricket, but this summer I am, for the first time, hoping that India wipe the carpet with you lot.

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 20:55 GMT

Whoever is chosen, someone badly needs to look at how several promising bowlers seem to have been ruined at the hands of the England bowling coaches: Finn, Rankin, Roland-Jones, Briggs, Rashid etc to name just a few! Something really strange has been going on. Then there are the promising newcomers like Root and Stokes who also seem to have been messed around with instead of nurtured, and the strange discarding of Compton and all this without even mentioning Pietersen. There sure is a lot to sort out. Can't help thinking that Mark Robinson would have been the best equipped to do this, despite his lack of international experience.

Dummy4
on April 18, 2014, 21:02 GMT

Not again...

venkatesh
on April 18, 2014, 21:04 GMT

then it is going to be the end of kp there was a ray of hope before now it's gone for ever.sad end to the greatest batsman ever to play forEngland

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